NCJ Number
52229
Journal
Human Relations Volume: 28 Issue: 7 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1975) Pages: 661-674
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE CRIMINALITY OF RURAL ARABS IN ISRAEL IS ANALYZED IN TERMS OF CULTURE CONFLICT. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM 175 YOUNG MALES FROM FIVE ARAB VILLAGES AND FROM A SAMPLE OF 43 ARAB PRISONERS.
Abstract
IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WOULD BE CORRELATED WITH CRIMINALITY: MODERNIZATION, SECULARIZATION, LIBERAL ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN, AND MODERN VALUE ORIENTATION. THE FINAL RESEARCH SAMPLE, SELECTED BECAUSE THE YOUNG MEN REPORTED A DISPROPORTIONALLY HIGH RATE OF OFFENSES, WAS COMPARED TO A GROUP OF ARAB PRISONERS. AN INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO THE TWO GROUPS THAT WAS DESIGNED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: GENERAL BACKGROUND, RELIGIOSITY, ATTITUDES TOWARD KINSHIP AND FAMILY TIES, TRADITIONALISM, RECREATION PATTERNS, ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN, AND GENERAL VALUE ORIENTATION. AN ANALYSIS OF BACKGROUND DATA REVEALED NO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CRIMINALS AND NONCRIMINALS. SUBJECTS HAD VERY LOW SOCIOECONOMIC ORIGINS AND LITTLE ACCESS TO MODERN FACILITIES. THE METHOD USED TO ANALYZE THE DATA INVOLVED A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS INCLUDING A FACTOR ANALYSIS OF ALL ORDINAL VARIABLES. THE SIGNIFICANT LINKS BETWEEN THE QUESTIONNAIRE'S INDEPENDENT VARIABLES AND CRIMINALITY REVEALED THREE AREAS OF SIGNIFICANT CORRELATIONS: (1) OFFENDERS TENDED TO BE UNMARRIED, SUPPORTING THE GENERAL HYPOTHESIS IN THAT SHEER EXISTENCE OF FAMILY STRUCTURE IS A STABILIZING FACTOR; (2) AMONG THE OFFENDERS THE SOURCE OF FAMILY INCOME WAS MORE OFTEN LAND THAN CAPITAL; AND (3) THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE FATHERS OF OFFENDERS WAS LOWER. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT CULTURE CONFLICT BETWEEN REJECTED CULTURAL PATTERNS OF THE VILLAGE AND THE AS YET UNATTAINED CULTURE OF THE CITY RESULTS IN INDISCRIMINATE ABSORPTION OF 'STREET CULTURE.' THIS ABSORPTION IS DEEMED TO BE PREDISPOSING TO DELINQUENCY AND CRIME. SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE ITEMS, TABLES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KJM)